health
Wegovy pill sales smash forecasts, sending Novo Nordisk stock higher
Novo Nordisk raised its outlook for 2026 after a strong performance from its newly launched Wegovy pill.
TL;DR
- Novo Nordisk hiked its annual profit guidance following strong sales of the Wegovy weight-loss pill in the first quarter.
- Wegovy pill sales reached 2.26 billion kroner, significantly exceeding analyst expectations of 1.16 billion kroner.
- The company now expects adjusted sales and profit to contract between 4% and 12% in 2026, an improvement on previous projections.
- First-quarter sales rose 32% to 96.8 billion Danish kroner, with operating profit surging 65%.
- Novo announced the Wegovy pill will launch outside the U.S. in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.
- Sales of the injectable Wegovy drug increased by 12% year-on-year, while diabetes drug Ozempic sales fell 8% but exceeded expectations.
- The company is in direct competition with Eli Lilly's obesity pill Foundayo, launched in April.